UAE denies reports it has hiked visa fees

Dubai, June 3 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dismissed reports that it has implemented a new fee structure for issuing different kinds of visas, WAM news agency said Tuesday. A senior official at the interior ministry said that though the government has taken a decision to increase fees of different visas, the new policy was not yet implemented.

Earlier reports said the new fees would be implemented from June 1. But the official said: “We still don’t know when it will be implemented”.

“Fees have been amended and new visa categories added, in which the purpose of the visit to the country will be made clear,” he added.

Briefing about the cabinet decision, the official said the decision to increase fees of different kinds of visas “include entry visas, mission visas and transit visas”.

He said previously visitors were allowed to enter the country on visit visas, tourist visas, transit visas, work visas and a few other categories.

“New categories added to the list would make provision for medical treatment, special visas to attend conferences and exhibitions, study visas and multiple visit visas,” the official added.